Where hybrids are headed

Who might buy DFA? What's the state of advisor pay?

Dimensional Fund Advisors is exploring a sale, sources told Citywire earlier in the week! But why now, who might buy it, and what would they get? These questions, and many more, are covered by Citywire editors Ian Wenik and Alex Steger in today’s episode of This Week in Wealth. They also take a deep dive into Citywire’s annual RIA Pay Report, which looks at advisor compensation from all angles, including job function, location, gender, and whether a firm has PE backing.

‘Backstabbing, blackmail and betrayal’: Inside a $14bn Tamp’s sensational suit

Turnkey asset management program Matson Money is suing its former co-CEO, who is also the firm’s founder’s son-in-law, alleging that he tried to start a competing business using protected information. Sam Bojarski, Ian Wenik, and Alex Steger break down the sensational suit. The team also discusses The Mather Group’s pursuit of a new institutional investor and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to drop its ‘gag rule’ in enforcement settlements.

Where hybrids are headed

Alex Steger and Ian Wenik host Nate Lenz, the chief executive of $30bn Concurrent Investment Advisors, for a discussion about why his Tampa-based firm chose to break away from Raymond James, how it's begun pursuing both minority and majority acquisitions and — no, seriously — Columbia football.

Bumps in the road

Alex, Ian and Alec discuss a relatively rocky week for some key players in the wealth management industry, starting with some indicators in LPL Financial's latest earnings report that its recruiting engine has slowed down amidst its battle to retain Commonwealth advisors. The trio also go over the recent spate of data breaches across a host of household names which have exposed thousands of clients' sensitive data.

What’s next for the original RIA aggregator?

Ian, Sam, and Alex discuss the task ahead for Focus Financial Partners’ new CEO, Adam Birenbaum, who is charged with steering the firm through a cycle that goes beyond acquisition and consolidation. The team also digs into Merchant Investment Management’s latest capital raise, its second in less than two years, which is being led by PE shop Sixth Street. Plus, they have the skinny on possibly the most famous financial advisor in America today: Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, the Osaic-affiliated advisor who has landed a starring role on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.